EP0017428B1 - Dispositif et méthode pour la détection du passage de pièces de monnaie - Google Patents

Dispositif et méthode pour la détection du passage de pièces de monnaie Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0017428B1
EP0017428B1 EP80300947A EP80300947A EP0017428B1 EP 0017428 B1 EP0017428 B1 EP 0017428B1 EP 80300947 A EP80300947 A EP 80300947A EP 80300947 A EP80300947 A EP 80300947A EP 0017428 B1 EP0017428 B1 EP 0017428B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
passageway
coin
light
detecting
region
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP80300947A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0017428A1 (fr
Inventor
Robert Dean
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mars Inc
Original Assignee
Mars Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mars Inc filed Critical Mars Inc
Priority to AT80300947T priority Critical patent/ATE7249T1/de
Publication of EP0017428A1 publication Critical patent/EP0017428A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0017428B1 publication Critical patent/EP0017428B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D5/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting the passage of coins and is especially concerned with detecting the presence of a coin in a vertical or near vertical coin passageway.
  • One known arrangement for detecting the passage of a coin along a coin passageway consists of a light source in one wall of the coin passageway and a light detector on the opposite wall positioned so that a beam of light from the source normally crosses the passageway and falls on the light sensor.
  • the passage of a coin causes temporary interruption of the beam of light and thus is detected by a temporary change in the output of the sensor (see, for example, US-A-3998 309 and US-A-4089 400).
  • British Patent Specification No. 1,278,363 does not relate to detecting coins. It relates to counting small parts such as nuts and bolts.
  • a light beam from a source is reflected many times back and forth across an approximately square detection plane and finally is detected by a detector located behind a small collimating inlet 56.
  • the small inlet 56 means that only a limited part of the beam cross-section is effective.
  • Flat objects could slide edgeways between these parallel effective parts of the beam and so a proportion of such objects would not be counted.
  • this apparatus is not suited to reliably detecting coins.
  • the apparatus relies upon "total" coverage of a plane with the light beam to achieve detection of objects which may pass through the plane at any position and in any orientation. In one case eight and in another case four passes of the beam are needed to achieve this.
  • the invention provides apparatus for detecting the passage of a coin in a predetermined region said region being part of a coin-receiving passageway of the apparatus comprising a light source, means for causing a beam of light from said source to cross said region of a plurality of times at a respective plurality of positions, and means for detecting interruption of said beam by a coin, characterised in that means is provided for orientating the coin substantially in a predetermined plane which intersects the light beam, and the positions at which the beam crosses the passageway are spaced apart in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the coin passes along the passageway.
  • the present invention thus offers a way of detecting coins, using a common structure which will achieve reliable detection over a wide range of coin diameters, and without the need to cover a detection plane with light.
  • the term "light source” is intended to include infrared light sources and ultra violet light sources.
  • the light source may comprise a light-emitting diode and the light detector may comprise a photo-transistor.
  • the apparatus to be described has the further advantage that because the light source and detector are on the same side of the coin passageway, electrical connections to the light source and light detector are from one side only. This facilitates the design and construction of machines incorporating the apparatus according to the invention.
  • the reflecting means may be provided by a prism of transparent material, the first and second reflecting means comprising first and second surfaces of the prism arranged at approximately 45° to the wall of the coin passageway, the beam being reflected by total internal reflector in the prism.
  • a method of detecting the passage of a coin in a predetermined region which is part of a coin-receiving passageway comprising causing a light beam to cross the region a plurality of times at a respective plurality of positions, and detecting the interruption of the beam by a coin which has entered said region, characterised in that before entering the region, the coin is orientated to lie substantially in a predetermined plane which intersects the light beam, and the beam is caused to cross the passageway at positions which are spaced apart in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the coin passes along the passageway.
  • a coin testing mechanism 11 which includes a passageway 12 where coins inserted into the mechanism are tested for authenticity and denomination by electronic circuitry with sensors 13 located adjacent the passageway 12.
  • the coin testing circuitry and sensor may for example be of any suitable design, for example they may be as described in our British patent No. 1,397,083.
  • the passageways are near vertical and have an oblong horizontal cross-section.
  • the walls of the passageway 14 are provided by two closely spaced moulded plastics plates 16 and 17.
  • the entrance to the acceptance passageway is normally closed by a gate 18 which can pivot about a horizontal axis 19 but which is biased into the closed position by means of a leaf spring 20 which is secured to the plate 17 and bears against the gate 18.
  • the gate 18 can be opened by energising a solenoid 21 which has an armature 22 which passes through a hole in the plate 16 and bears against the gate 18 at a point above the hinge axis.
  • the test circuitry 23 determines that a coin inserted into the mechanism is acceptable it causes the solenoid 21 to be energised to open the entrance to the acceptance channel.
  • a coin presence sensing arrangement 24 is provided.
  • the sensing arrangement 24 comprises an infra-red emitting diode 25 and a photo diode 26 mounted in two horizontally spaced holes 27 in the plate 16.
  • a prism 29 In the plate 17 are two holes 28 aligned with the holes 27 and behind these holes is a prism 29.
  • the prism 29 is mounted on a plate 50 of moulded plastics material which also serves to form one wall of the reject passageway.
  • the plate 50 is mounted against the plate 17 with the prism positioned over the holes 28.
  • the prism 29 is made of clear acrylic plastics material and has flat front and rear faces 30 and 31 which are disposed perpendicular to the axes of the holes 27 and 28.
  • the end faces 32 and 33 are inclined at 45° to the axes of the holes 27 and 28 and the normals to the end faces lie in a common plane with the axes of the holes.
  • the inclined end faces of the prism are opposite the ends of the holes 28.
  • the infra-red emitting diode 25 is connected to a suitable supply of electricity (not shown) so as to act as a light source.
  • the light from the diode 25 is collimated by the hole 27 so that a beam of light crosses the passageway 14, passes through the corresponding hole 28 and enters the prism 29 passing perpendicularly through its front surface 30.
  • the light beam undergoes total internal reflection through 90° and passes parallel to the wall of the passage, inside the prism towards the end surface 33.
  • the light beam undergoes total internal reflection through 90° to emerge from the prism perpendicularly to the front face and parallel to the part of the beam entering the prism.
  • the emergent beam passes through the corresponding hole 28, crosses the coin passageway and enters the hole 27 to fall on the photo-transistor 26.
  • the photo-transistor is connected in an electrical circuit (not shown), the output of which is amplified and used to provide a signal for indicating the presence of a coin in the acceptance passageway.
  • the sides of the coin passageway 14 adjacent the sensing arrangement are formed by a vertical moulded strip 34 on the plate 16 and a metal plate 35 of the housing for the coin mechanism.
  • the width of the coin passageway 14 between the strip 34 and the plate 35 is about 40 mm to allow a Danish 5 Krone coin to be accepted and pass with clearance down the acceptance passageway.
  • the spacings between the strip 34 and the light source 25, the light source and the light detector 26 and the light detector and the plate 35 are all about 13.5 mm.
  • the sensing arrangement detects coins which might not be detected by a centrally arranged sensor and light source on opposite sides of the passageway.
  • the interruption of the light falling on the photo-transistor 26 causes a change in output from its circuit which serves as a signal to indicate the presence of a coin in the acceptance passageway 14.
  • Figure 4 illustrates in a much simplified form how this signal might be used.
  • a signal from the coin testing circuitry 23 indicative of an acceptable coin is used to cause the solenoid 21 to be energised, thus opening the accept gate 18.
  • the sensing arrangement 24 detects the presence of the coin when it has entered the acceptance passageway 14.
  • the signal from the sensing arrangement 24 is combined in the AND gate 37 with the accept signal from the testing circuitry and passed to the totaliser 36 so as to initiate the accumulation in the totaliser 36 of the value of the coin accepted and to cancel the "accept" signal, thereby causing the gate 18 to close. If no accept signal is received after a delay of about 300 milliseconds the accept signal is cancelled and no value is credited in the totaliser 36.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Testing Of Coins (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
  • Noodles (AREA)

Claims (9)

1. Appareil pour détecter le passage d'une pièce de monnaie dans une zone prédéterminée faisant partie d'un passage (14) de réception de pièces de monnaie, que comporte l'appareil, comprenant une source de lumière (25), des moyens (27, 28, 29) destinés à faire traverser ladite zone plusieurs fois en plusiers positions respectives par un faisceau de lumière délivré par ladite source, et des moyens (26) pour détecter des interruptions dudit faisceau par une pièce de monnaie, caractérisé en ce que des moyens (12, 18) sont prévus pour orienter la pièce de monnaie essentiellement dans un plan prédéterminé qui intersecte le faisceau de lumière, et que les positions, dans lesquelles le faisceau croise le passage, sont distantes suivant une direction dans son ensemble transversale par rapport à la direction suivant laquelle la pièce de monnaie circule dans le passage.
2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la source de lumière comporte une diode luminescente et que les moyens de détection comprennent un phototransistor.
3. Appareil selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens destinés à faire traverser la zone plusieurs fois par le faisceau comportent un prisme (29) constitué en un matériau transparent possédant des première et seconde surfaces (32, 33) disposées à environ 90° l'une par rapport à l'autre, le faisceau étant réfléchi sous l'effet d'une réflexion totale interne dans le prisme de manière à intersecter deux fois le passage.
4. Appareil selon la revendication 1 et destiné à être utilisé dans des mécanismes fonctionnant avec des pièces de monnaie, caractérisé en ce que le passage possède une section transversale allongée et est défini par deux parois rapprochées (16, 17) parallèles dans leur ensemble, que la source de lumière et les moyens de détection sont situés dans ou au voisinage de l'une desdites parois (16), que la source de lumière et les moyens de détection sont distants l'une de l'autre, suivant la largeur du passage et sont distants de côtés (34, 35) du passage, que des premiers et seconds moyens réfléchissants (32, 33) sont situés dans ou au voisinage de ladite autre paroi (17) du passage, respectivement en vis-à-vis de la source de lumière et des moyens de détection de telle sorte que les premiers moyens réfléchissants réfléchissent un faisceau de lumière croisant le passage depuis la source de lumière en direction des seconds moyens réfléchissants et que les seconds moyens réfléchissants réfléchissent le faisceau réfléchi par les premiers moyens réfléchissants en travers du passage pour pièces monnaie, en direction des moyens de détection, les distances entre les positions où le faisceau croise le passage et par rapport aux côtés du passage étant toutes inférieures à la taille de la pièce de monnaie la plus petite que l'appareil est censé détecter.
5. Appareil tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le passage de réception des pièces de monnaie est un passage d'acceptation d'un appareil de validation de pièces de monnaie, que le faisceau croise le passage juste en aval d'une porte (18) pouvant être actionnée de manière à ouvrir et fermer le passage pour les pièces contrôlées par l'appareil de validation et qu'il est prévu des moyens (21, 22) sensibles à la détection du passage d'une pièce de monnaie et servant à actionner la porte pour fermer le passage.
6. Appareil tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le faisceau de lumière est rétréci lors de sa traversée d'un trou (27) débouchant dans le passage.
7. Appareil tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 6, dans lequel l'incidence de la lumière sur les moyens de détection est limitée par un trou (27) situé entre le passage et les moyens de détection.
8. Procédé pour détecter le passage d'une pièce de monnaie dans une zone prédéterminée qui fait partie d'une passage de réception de pièces de monmaie, consistant à faire traverser cette zone plusieurs fois en plusiers positions respectives par un faisceau de lumière, et à détecter l'interruption du faisceau par une pièce de monnaie qui a pénétré dans ladite zone, caractérisé en ce que, avant de pénétrer dans ladite zone, la pièce de monnaie est orientée de manière à être située essentiellement dans un plan prédéterminé qui intersecte le faisceau de lumière, et que le faisceau de lumière est tenu de croiser le passage dans des positions qui sont distantes suivant une direction dans son ensemble transversale par rapport à la direction suivant laquelle la pièce de monnaie circule dans le passage.
9. Procédé tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que le passage de réception des pièces de monnaie possède une section transversale allongée, dimensionnée de manière à orienter la pièce de monnaie essentiellement dans ledit plan prédéterminé, que le faisceau est dirigé en travers du passage dans une première position, et est réfléchi de manière à croiser le passage dans une seconde position distante de la première position suivant la largeur du passage, dans une direction dans on ensemble transversale par rapport à la direction suivant laquelle la pièce de monnaie circule dans le passage, lesdites première et seconde positions étant écartées l'une de l'autre et par rapport aux côtés du passage pour pièces de monnaie à des distances qui sont inférieures à la taille de la pièce de monnaie la plus petite qui doit être détectée, et qu'une interruption du faisceau est détectée après que ledit faisceau a croisé le passage, dans la seconde position.
EP80300947A 1979-03-26 1980-03-26 Dispositif et méthode pour la détection du passage de pièces de monnaie Expired EP0017428B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT80300947T ATE7249T1 (de) 1979-03-26 1980-03-26 Vorrichtung und verfahren zur feststellung des durchgangs von muenzen.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7910550A GB2044972B (en) 1979-03-26 1979-03-26 Coin detector
GB7910550 1979-03-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0017428A1 EP0017428A1 (fr) 1980-10-15
EP0017428B1 true EP0017428B1 (fr) 1984-04-25

Family

ID=10504140

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80300947A Expired EP0017428B1 (fr) 1979-03-26 1980-03-26 Dispositif et méthode pour la détection du passage de pièces de monnaie

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US4413718A (fr)
EP (1) EP0017428B1 (fr)
JP (2) JPH0238990B2 (fr)
AT (1) ATE7249T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3067606D1 (fr)
GB (1) GB2044972B (fr)
HK (1) HK74285A (fr)
MY (1) MY8700056A (fr)
WO (1) WO1980002081A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2044972B (en) * 1979-03-26 1983-06-15 Mars Inc Coin detector
US4565275A (en) * 1982-12-15 1986-01-21 Sigma Enterprises Incorporated Optoelectronic coin entry sensing system for coin operated machines
GB2144252B (en) * 1983-07-28 1987-04-23 Mars Inc Coin testing apparatus
EP0173119B1 (fr) * 1984-08-29 1989-10-25 Autelca Ag Boîte à monnaie et distributeur automatique
US4666027A (en) * 1986-02-07 1987-05-19 Validation Systems, Inc. Coin validation apparatus and method for detecting stringing of coins and distinguishing valid tokens or coins from slugs
GB2212313B (en) * 1987-11-13 1991-10-30 Coin & Micro Systems Limited Article identification
GB2258333B (en) * 1991-07-31 1995-04-05 Mars Inc Coin routing gate
GB9226383D0 (en) * 1992-12-18 1993-02-10 Coin Controls Coin sensing apparatus
DE9306231U1 (de) * 1993-04-24 1993-07-01 National Rejectors, Inc. GmbH, 2150 Buxtehude Sortiervorrichtung für Münzen
ES2110147T3 (es) * 1994-06-27 1998-02-01 Sanden Corp Selector de monedas.
GB9419912D0 (en) * 1994-10-03 1994-11-16 Coin Controls Optical coin sensing station
EP0923767B1 (fr) 1996-07-29 2002-06-19 QVEX, Inc. Dispositif et procede de validation pour pieces de monnaie
GB2375215B (en) * 1998-03-12 2002-12-31 Idx Inc Apparatus for testing tokens of varied sizes
JPH11328473A (ja) 1998-03-17 1999-11-30 Nippon Conlux Co Ltd 硬貨検知方法および装置
GB2342989A (en) * 1998-10-23 2000-04-26 Integrated Design Limited Detection system
US6441891B1 (en) 2000-04-20 2002-08-27 Coin Acceptors, Inc. System for detecting a foreign object attached to a bill passing through a bill validator
DE10215467A1 (de) * 2002-03-28 2003-10-09 Walter Hanke Mech Werkstaetten Münzweiche
EP1576549B2 (fr) * 2002-12-27 2019-09-18 Japan Cash Machine Co., Ltd. Dispositif de detection optique destine a detecter des caracteristiques optiques de papiers de valeur
DE20305319U1 (de) * 2003-04-02 2003-08-14 Nat Rejectors Gmbh Geldwechsler
US20050107024A1 (en) * 2003-11-14 2005-05-19 Quattrini Victor A. Coin supply sensor for coin dispenser canister
US20070072534A1 (en) * 2005-09-26 2007-03-29 Coin Acceptors, Inc. Tube status sensing method and control field of the invention
GB2431151A (en) * 2005-10-14 2007-04-18 Money Controls Ltd Coin dispensing apparatus
WO2008008783A1 (fr) * 2006-07-10 2008-01-17 Coin Acceptors, Inc. MONNAYEUR avec une cassette de stockage de pièces de monnaie ÉCLAIRÉE ayant des signaux de retour audibles et visuels
EP2787488A1 (fr) * 2013-04-02 2014-10-08 Ezio Panzeri Vérification de pièces de monnaie
JP7199722B2 (ja) * 2019-12-25 2023-01-06 旭精工株式会社 硬貨搬送振分機構及びそれを備えた硬貨識別搬送装置

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2237132A (en) * 1939-12-28 1941-04-01 Wurlitzer Co Photoelectric coin registering device
GB1278363A (en) * 1969-04-14 1972-06-21 Automated Packaging Syst Inc Detecting head for a counting system

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3041461A (en) * 1958-05-27 1962-06-26 Lindly & Company Inc Photo electric inspecting apparatus
US3860329A (en) * 1972-01-03 1975-01-14 Polaroid Corp Unique prismatic element and mounting arrangement therefor
GB1502250A (en) * 1973-10-30 1978-02-22 Heathcote Technical Services Coin identifying apparatus
JPS5087996U (fr) * 1973-12-14 1975-07-25
JPS50110298U (fr) * 1974-02-18 1975-09-09
US3901607A (en) * 1974-02-21 1975-08-26 Xerox Corp High aperture reflection photodetector apparatus
US4082099A (en) * 1974-04-19 1978-04-04 Gunter Iwersen Machine for identifying and counting coins or the like
US3998309A (en) * 1976-01-23 1976-12-21 Bally Manufacturing Corporation Coin accepting device
US4089400A (en) * 1976-01-23 1978-05-16 Gregory Jr Lester Coin testing device
JPS52112393A (en) * 1976-03-17 1977-09-20 Toshiba Corp Vending machine for multiple goods
US4106610A (en) * 1976-06-07 1978-08-15 Mars, Incorporated Coin apparatus having multiple coin-diverting gates
DE2724869A1 (de) * 1977-06-02 1978-12-14 Walter Hanke Mechanische Werks Beruehrungsfreier muenzpruefer
GB2044972B (en) * 1979-03-26 1983-06-15 Mars Inc Coin detector

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2237132A (en) * 1939-12-28 1941-04-01 Wurlitzer Co Photoelectric coin registering device
GB1278363A (en) * 1969-04-14 1972-06-21 Automated Packaging Syst Inc Detecting head for a counting system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1980002081A1 (fr) 1980-10-02
JPH0238990B2 (fr) 1990-09-03
DE3067606D1 (en) 1984-05-30
ATE7249T1 (de) 1984-05-15
JPH0426751B2 (fr) 1992-05-08
HK74285A (en) 1985-10-11
US4413718A (en) 1983-11-08
EP0017428A1 (fr) 1980-10-15
JPH02168376A (ja) 1990-06-28
GB2044972B (en) 1983-06-15
JPS56500315A (fr) 1981-03-12
GB2044972A (en) 1980-10-22
MY8700056A (en) 1987-12-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0017428B1 (fr) Dispositif et méthode pour la détection du passage de pièces de monnaie
KR890002004B1 (ko) 지폐류 판별장치
EP0134686B1 (fr) Dispositif pour l'examen de pièces de monnaie
US4483431A (en) Device for detecting and rejecting invalid coins utilizing a verticle coin chute and multiple coin tests
US4667093A (en) Electronic coin measurement apparatus with size and acceleration detection
US5515960A (en) Coin sensing apparatus
US6223877B1 (en) Coin validation apparatus
US8210337B2 (en) Method and sensor for sensing coins for valuation
EP1239423B1 (fr) Validateur de billets de banque
US4582189A (en) Coin validation apparatus
EP0560832B1 (fr) Dispositifs de validation de pieces de monnaie
EP0784835B1 (fr) Poste de detection optique pour pieces de monnaie
US4148388A (en) Testing apparatus for non-circular coins
US4598724A (en) Coin counter
CA1158334A (fr) Dispositif et methode de detection de proximite
WO1990008368A1 (fr) Jeton a codage optique et systeme de detection
JP3204559B2 (ja) コイン識別装置
JP3219455B2 (ja) 硬貨選別装置
TWM653292U (zh) 硬幣接收裝置
JPS6362032B2 (fr)
MXPA99001097A (fr)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19810407

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: FUMERO BREVETTI S.N.C.

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 7249

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19840515

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3067606

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19840530

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 19920311

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19920319

Year of fee payment: 13

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 19920319

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19920331

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19920512

Year of fee payment: 13

EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19930326

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19930326

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19930327

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19930331

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: MARS INC.

Effective date: 19930331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19931001

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee
EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 80300947.1

Effective date: 19931008

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19990309

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19990325

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19990329

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19990406

Year of fee payment: 20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20000325

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20000325

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

Effective date: 20000325